As they walked, the thief kept his head down, not making a struggle as they went. He walked slowly, sometimes forcing Gabriel to tap his ankles again to get him to move.
“I highly doubt they have a back door,” Era thought aloud, “and even then, our banning from the Academy obviously still applies.”
“Would the records be held anywhere else?” Crisilla asked. “Like another branch?”
“It’s the Academy,” Jarred replied. “Mages are secretive by their very nature. They wouldn’t risk having records elsewhere.”
Hearing this, the thief’s eyes lit up. “You looking for information? I can get you an audience with my boss, he knows everything, everything going on in the city! And if he don’t know it, he can find out!”
“Stop trying to worm your way out of this, pickpocket,” Gabriel growled.
Era glanced over to him. “Anything, you say?”
“Era,” Gabriel warned, “don’t get involved in the affairs of thieves. I’m warning you.”
“What choice do we have, Gabriel?” Era looked around to make sure no one was watching, then pulled the group into a shaded corner.
“You’re fucking serious, aren’t you?” Gabriel sighed.
“Now explain, please,” Era said, facing the thief. “You can get any information you want?”
“For a price, yes!” he said, nodding eagerly. “Money must not be a big concern for you, master mage, so any info you need, we can provide, I assure you!”
“Even if it means breaking into the Mage Academy to get it?”
“We have mages amongst our ranks,” he replied. “We’d hardly have to break in at all.”
“Could you get in without… harming anyone? I don’t want innocent blood shed.”
“Our master frowns on killing,” replied the thief. “We only fight in self-defense. ‘Honor among thieves,’ that’s his motto.”
Era looked around at the others. “I say we go for it,” he said eagerly.
Jarred scowled disapprovingly. “Working with thieves?” he questioned. “This leaves a sour taste in my mouth.”
“And they’re thieves,” Gabriel added. “He can talk about honor all day and it won’t change the fact that he steals for a living.” The thief flinched at his words.
Crisilla shrugged. “We could at least give it a try,” she said. “Even if we meet with the thief lord, we can change our minds if he proves untrustworthy.”
“Honey, I love you,” Jarred said, “but you are far, far too trusting.”
“And you’re way too untrusting,” she replied.
Gabriel sighed with exasperation. “Kid, I told you I’d back you up in whatever it was you wanted to do,” he said, “and I meant it. If that means consorting with thieves, fine. I won’t like it much, but ultimately it’s your decision to make.”
“And you know I’ll go with you,” Crisilla added. “Besides, I always wanted to meet the king of thieves.”
Jarred’s lip curled in disgust. “And I go where she goes,” he muttered.
Era smiled gratefully at each of them. “Thank you all so much,” he said. “It means a lot to me.”
“Eh, hurry up and get us going before I change my mind,” Gabriel replied, clapping him heavily on the back.
Era looked back to the thief. “How do we go about meeting your master?”
“Untie my bonds and keep close,” he said, “we’re off to the Markshood Inn.”
The Markshood Inn was unremarkable both outside and inside; it was like any other tavern in the city in that it was loud, it was choked with bodies and smoke, and it reeked of alcohol. The group followed the thief to a back room, getting a wary look from the large man bartending.
The back room was much quieter and less-crowded; only a handful of people were in the room. The thief trotted ahead, falling to one knee in a parody of a formal bow before a young man in a midnight tunic and hood. “Your highness,” he said in a casual tone, “I brought some people who wished to meet you.”
“Aye?” the blue-clothed man said with a half-smile. “They here for employment op’s or business matters?”
“Business, milord.”
“Right then,” he replied in his Gaelic accent, waving the thief away. He pulled back his hood, letting loose a shock of cobalt hair and revealing two delicately pointed ears.
“Figures,” Gabriel muttered. “He’s a fucking elf.”
“And this ‘fooking elf’ is the King of Thieves in this city,” the elf reminded him, “and you little band of wayfarers are right in the center of his stronghold. I’m not trying to set you on edge or nothing, but I’d appreciate a lick of respect.” His tone was polite, but full of veiled threats.
“Forgive me, your highness,” Era said, bowing his head politely, prompting Gabriel to roll his eyes in embarrassment. “My name is Era Dalgard, and I’m in need of some information that I can’t currently procure by myself.”
“Well, if it’s information you need, you came to the right man!” He grinned wide and stepped forward to shake Era’s hand. “The name’s Kobal Thornslight, but I’m liking the way you addressed me before. Sure you’re not here for a job?”
“Quite sure,” Era said quickly. “All I need are some documents from the Mage Academy.”
“Ah, the Academy,” Kobal mused. “I’ve got me a few licensed spellspitters that can get in there right quick. What sort of documents are we looking for, then?”
The next half-hour was spent plotting. Era described exactly what information he was looking for – the name of the assistant headmaster from eight years prior – and also mentioned that he wanted to ask some teachers if they remembered him. Kobal assured him they could get him the documents and question some of the mages inside without much trouble.
“You realize, of course,” Kobal said, “that my help doesn’t come cheap. And that you’ll have to pay in more than gold. I require silence as well.”
“Silence?”
“You lot will need to make a solemn vow to whatever gods you hold dear that you’ll not tell a soul of our existence,” he warned. “Otherwise I’d be willing to set aside my distaste for killing.”
“We won’t breathe a word,” Era assured him.
“I’ll be more inclined to believe you with my payment in hand,” Kobal replied with a grin, “but I appreciate it nonetheless.”
“How much will this be costing us?” Era asked. When Kobal told him, his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
Crisilla sighed. “I’ll cover it,” she said, “but I’m not pushing the wheelbarrow that sum will have to arrive in.”
I wasn't expecting Kobal to be here! I had no idea that HAT and FE overlapped. Cool.
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